*HTML is ON *UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend
Smilies Legend
If you have previously registered, but forgotten your password, click here.
T O P I C R E V I E WRobert PearlmanSpaceX has released its insignia for the first flight test of a fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy rocket from Starbase in Texas:Robert PearlmanSpaceX is now taking orders for its Starship Test Flight patch.J BlackburnSo now they are back to producing patches? Even after an unsuccessful test? Yes, I am aware much data and experience was learned but the vehicle exploded unintentionally (that is a failure). My comments come because SpaceX stated and held their ground in the past, patches would not be released until the mission was successful. Yes, companies can change their minds but after stopping production of CRS patches before CRS-20 along with other missions, I gave up on collecting SpaceX patches. I find the selling of this patch "amusing" after their patch history disappointments.Robert PearlmanTechnically speaking, the vehicle's explosion was intentional — it was commanded by the flight termination systems for both Starship and Super Heavy. It was the failure of the stages to separate and the tumbling that were not to plan.SpaceX said from the start that "mission success" for this test flight was just clearing the pad. Anything that happened after was just "gravy," adding to the data they collected from the launch. So in that sense, the test flight was a success.Why SpaceX chose this flight to resume patch sales is unknown. Given they also released several Starship products this week, I suspect it was because they saw the increased interest from the public in this particular flight. It is also not clear yet if this patch will represent all of the upcoming Starship test flights or if it is unique to the first. David C quote:Originally posted by J Blackburn:Yes, I am aware much data and experience was learned but the vehicle exploded unintentionally (that is a failure). That's not how flight test of anything works. You have a list of objectives to achieve — primary, secondary etc. You then have a criteria for success. We don't know what all the FTOs were on this, but from what was said pre-flight, it's likely that most, if not all primary objectives were met. It's unlikely to have been 100% successful, but we don't even know that. What's a passing grade? Certainly doesn't require 100%.J BlackburnThen, may I ask just what was SpaceX's main mission goal yesterday? There was a mission goal and that goal was documented. According to Space.com the goal was and I quote, "The goal was to get Starship to a maximum altitude of about 145 miles (233 km), then bring it barreling back into Earth's atmosphere for a trial-by-fire reentry, ending with a hard splashdown in the Pacific Ocean not far from the Hawaiian island of Kauai about 90 minutes after liftoff."I do not think any cigars were lit after yesterday's test. So, with that said I guess SpaceX has for now changed their direction from their recent patch production history and is now a space swag company. From a post a few years ago on this forum as I remember Elon Musk was quoted of making a statement he did not want to become a "space swag" company. I love space related patches as a collector but do not like when a company in their prime decides to stop selling patches only to start up again after dozens of missions are not available and collections go incomplete. I am not one who likes knock off patches being made and sold for the lost missions. Yes, it is my choice not to purchase from them but for those who do I wish you the best of luck collecting.Robert PearlmanNo other company in history has launched at the frequency that SpaceX has, such that no other company in history has had to consider the logistics of issuing patches when there is a new one every week (or even every couple of days). SpaceX does produce and sell collectibles for both their employees and the public, so they recognize the desire that exists. It just may have been there wasn't as a large demand for, say, CRS-23, as there was for Starship Flight Test 1. (That doesn't exactly answer the lack of patch sales for the Crew Dragon flights, but maybe SpaceX figures it is being respectful to the crew's own patch by keeping its own design in-house.)(As for the details of first test flight, we have a separate topic where that is being discussed and debated.)Robert PearlmanRetroRocket Emblems is taking pre-orders for its SpaceX Starship flight test patch, an original design. On Thursday, April 20, 2023, the SpaceX Starship full stack made it's maiden flight. Like many flights of this type, the milestones were generous and it achieved several before veering out of control and terminating its flight over the Gulf of Mexico. This patch notes several of the milestones that the test flight did achieve and shows the six Raptor engines that failed along the way. The patch is 4" in diameter. Delivery expected mid-May. Robert PearlmanSpaceX is now taking orders for its Starship Flight 2 patch.onesmallstepRetrorocket Emblems has produced a patch for the second Starship test launch.Robert PearlmanSpaceX is now taking orders for its Starship Flight 3 patch.J BlackburnIt appears SpaceX is now sold out of the Flight 3 patches. The web store shows "Coming Soon" with a "Notify me" tab.Robert PearlmanRetrorocket Emblems has produced a patch for the third Starship test launch. This patch commemorates three of the milestores accomplished by Starship S28: the payload door opening, the propellant transfer test and partial reentry. Robert Pearlman quote:Originally posted by J Blackburn:The web store shows "Coming Soon" with a "Notify me" tab. The Starship Flight 3 mission patch is now back in stock. Robert PearlmanIt appears that SpaceX's patch for Flight 4 has been shared online early (though it is not yet available for sale):Robert PearlmanSpaceX has released its Starship Flight 4 patch for sale.Here is SpaceX's image of the patch, to compare with the leaked version above:J BlackburnBeing this patch was released for sale on the SpaceX website store makes it the official patch compared to the leaked version. In relation to the "leaked" version from yesterday the patch seems to be the same except for thread color which could be due only to the camera and lighting taking the picture. A comparison of the actual two patches should be made to determine if the leaked version is a counterfeit. LiemboThe seller on ebay has sold legitimate employee and souvenir SpaceX patches in the past and I have no reason to assume this patch is any less legitimate. J BlackburnLiem, maybe it is legitimate but only a detailed investigative comparison will tell. With all respect to the seller, if a buyer asks for proof of authenticity then he or she should respectfully reply. This has happened on more than one occasion and to different potential buyers with this seller as I assume you have dealt with.We have got away from "official" patches and now look at each different patch of the same design as a "different version" which most are not. Instead of calling them a different version if it cannot be determined to be authentic then they are fraudulent, stolen, etc. and should be labeled that way.Does anyone have any info as to what method the leaked patch was initiated such as X (Twitter), Facebook, etc.?Robert PearlmanRetrorocket Emblems is producing a patch for the fourth Starship test flight. Initially I designed the patch to highlight the booster soft-landing. After watching the launch, the clear universal highlight was "The Little Flap That Could": the incredibly resilient forward flap that still performed it's tasks despite the substantial damage due to thermal tile loss on re-entry. I decided to go with the original design as this was the original major milestone of this flight test, as it paves the way to actual booster capture and recovery at the launch tower. The patch depicts Booster 11's steamy water landing while Starship 29 continues its flight downrange (there's some artistic license here).The patch will be 4 inches tall and delivery is expected mid-July 2024. Robert PearlmanSpaceX's Starship Flight 5 mission patch is now available: Robert PearlmanRetrorocket's SpaceX Starship IFT-5 flight test patch is available for pre-order. History was made again with the Starship Heavy program on October 13, 2024 when the Starship booster returned to base and was captured by the enormous "chopsticks" on its launch tower. Millions watched in awe as a 17-story object landed precisely and safely captured for reuse. This patch from Retrorocket Emblems is a bit different than previous offerings and goes with a bold Japanese style with literal chopsticks gripping Booster 12 with the text that translates to "SPACE IS DELICIOUS!".The patch will be 4 inches tall and delivery is expected mid-November 2024.
Yes, I am aware much data and experience was learned but the vehicle exploded unintentionally (that is a failure).
My comments come because SpaceX stated and held their ground in the past, patches would not be released until the mission was successful. Yes, companies can change their minds but after stopping production of CRS patches before CRS-20 along with other missions, I gave up on collecting SpaceX patches. I find the selling of this patch "amusing" after their patch history disappointments.
SpaceX said from the start that "mission success" for this test flight was just clearing the pad. Anything that happened after was just "gravy," adding to the data they collected from the launch. So in that sense, the test flight was a success.
Why SpaceX chose this flight to resume patch sales is unknown. Given they also released several Starship products this week, I suspect it was because they saw the increased interest from the public in this particular flight.
It is also not clear yet if this patch will represent all of the upcoming Starship test flights or if it is unique to the first.
quote:Originally posted by J Blackburn:Yes, I am aware much data and experience was learned but the vehicle exploded unintentionally (that is a failure).
There was a mission goal and that goal was documented. According to Space.com the goal was and I quote, "The goal was to get Starship to a maximum altitude of about 145 miles (233 km), then bring it barreling back into Earth's atmosphere for a trial-by-fire reentry, ending with a hard splashdown in the Pacific Ocean not far from the Hawaiian island of Kauai about 90 minutes after liftoff."
I do not think any cigars were lit after yesterday's test.
So, with that said I guess SpaceX has for now changed their direction from their recent patch production history and is now a space swag company. From a post a few years ago on this forum as I remember Elon Musk was quoted of making a statement he did not want to become a "space swag" company. I love space related patches as a collector but do not like when a company in their prime decides to stop selling patches only to start up again after dozens of missions are not available and collections go incomplete.
I am not one who likes knock off patches being made and sold for the lost missions. Yes, it is my choice not to purchase from them but for those who do I wish you the best of luck collecting.
SpaceX does produce and sell collectibles for both their employees and the public, so they recognize the desire that exists. It just may have been there wasn't as a large demand for, say, CRS-23, as there was for Starship Flight Test 1. (That doesn't exactly answer the lack of patch sales for the Crew Dragon flights, but maybe SpaceX figures it is being respectful to the crew's own patch by keeping its own design in-house.)
(As for the details of first test flight, we have a separate topic where that is being discussed and debated.)
On Thursday, April 20, 2023, the SpaceX Starship full stack made it's maiden flight. Like many flights of this type, the milestones were generous and it achieved several before veering out of control and terminating its flight over the Gulf of Mexico. This patch notes several of the milestones that the test flight did achieve and shows the six Raptor engines that failed along the way. The patch is 4" in diameter. Delivery expected mid-May.
The patch is 4" in diameter. Delivery expected mid-May.
This patch commemorates three of the milestores accomplished by Starship S28: the payload door opening, the propellant transfer test and partial reentry.
quote:Originally posted by J Blackburn:The web store shows "Coming Soon" with a "Notify me" tab.
Here is SpaceX's image of the patch, to compare with the leaked version above:
In relation to the "leaked" version from yesterday the patch seems to be the same except for thread color which could be due only to the camera and lighting taking the picture. A comparison of the actual two patches should be made to determine if the leaked version is a counterfeit.
We have got away from "official" patches and now look at each different patch of the same design as a "different version" which most are not. Instead of calling them a different version if it cannot be determined to be authentic then they are fraudulent, stolen, etc. and should be labeled that way.
Does anyone have any info as to what method the leaked patch was initiated such as X (Twitter), Facebook, etc.?
Initially I designed the patch to highlight the booster soft-landing. After watching the launch, the clear universal highlight was "The Little Flap That Could": the incredibly resilient forward flap that still performed it's tasks despite the substantial damage due to thermal tile loss on re-entry. I decided to go with the original design as this was the original major milestone of this flight test, as it paves the way to actual booster capture and recovery at the launch tower. The patch depicts Booster 11's steamy water landing while Starship 29 continues its flight downrange (there's some artistic license here).The patch will be 4 inches tall and delivery is expected mid-July 2024.
I decided to go with the original design as this was the original major milestone of this flight test, as it paves the way to actual booster capture and recovery at the launch tower. The patch depicts Booster 11's steamy water landing while Starship 29 continues its flight downrange (there's some artistic license here).
The patch will be 4 inches tall and delivery is expected mid-July 2024.
History was made again with the Starship Heavy program on October 13, 2024 when the Starship booster returned to base and was captured by the enormous "chopsticks" on its launch tower. Millions watched in awe as a 17-story object landed precisely and safely captured for reuse. This patch from Retrorocket Emblems is a bit different than previous offerings and goes with a bold Japanese style with literal chopsticks gripping Booster 12 with the text that translates to "SPACE IS DELICIOUS!".The patch will be 4 inches tall and delivery is expected mid-November 2024.
The patch will be 4 inches tall and delivery is expected mid-November 2024.
Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts
Copyright 1999-2024 collectSPACE. All rights reserved.